Developmental expression of genes in chick growth cartilage detected by in situ hybridization

We have used in situ hybridization to examine expression of collagen type I, II, and X mRNA and osteonectin mRNA in the chick epiphysis. Tissue samples from the proximal tibial growth cartilage were fixed in modified Carnoy's solution, dehydrated in ethanol, and embedded in paraffin. Longitudinal and transverse sections were demineralized with HCl and digested with hyaluronidase and proteinase K. In situ hybridization was carried out using biotinylated cDNA probes; the hybridized probe was detected using a streptavidin-biotinylated alkaline phosphatase conjugate. This procedure permitted detection of the corresponding mRNAs in cartilage with high sensitivity and low background. Osteonectin mRNA was detected in proliferating cartilage; lower levels of osteonectin mRNA were seen in the mid-hypertrophic region. This mRNA species was also expressed in cells that border the vascular canals in the premineralized region of the epiphysis. Collagen type X mRNA was detected throughout the hypertrophic zone. As localization of collagen type X mRNA corresponded to the site of maximal synthesis of the protein, reported in other studies, our results would further support the suggestion that this protein is associated with mineralization of cartilage. Collagen type II mRNA was seen in both the proliferating and the hypertrophic regions of the cartilage. Highest levels of expression were observed in the proliferative region. The results suggest that the transcriptional control of collagen type II and X by cells of the proliferating and hypertrophic regions of the growth cartilage may be related.